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"Income from House Property" [Section 22 to 27]

The annual value of property consisting of any buildings or lands appurtenant thereto of which  the assessee is the owner shall be subject to Income-tax under the head 'Income from house property'  after claiming deduction under section 24 provided such property, or any portion of such property is  not used by the assessee for the purposes of any business or profession, carried on by him, the profits  of which are chargeable to Income-tax.  An analysis of the above would reveal the following: 

 

The basis of calculating income from house property is the 'Annual Value'. This is the inherent  capacity of the property to earn income. Income from house property is perhaps the only income that  is charged to tax on a notional basis. The charge is not because of the receipt of any income but is on  the inherent potential of house property to generate income. The annual value is the amount for which  the property might reasonably be expected to let from year to year. The method of determination of  annual value is discussed later

 

Table showing …How to Compute "Income from House Property"

 

1. 

Gross annual value i.e. expected rent/actual rent received or  receivable, whichever is higher

 

₹………….

 

However, in case of vacancy, expected rent or actual rent  received or receivable, whichever is lower

 

 

2.

Less:

 

 

 

(a) The amount of rent which could not be realized

₹………….

 

 

(b) Taxes actually paid and borne by owner to local authority

₹………….

 

 

Net annual value (NAV)

 

₹………….

3.

Less: Deduction allowed u/s 24

 

₹………….

 

(a) Standard deduction @ 30% of NAV

₹…………

 

 

(b) Interest on borrowed capital [Section 24(1)(vi)]

₹………….

 

 

Total

 

₹………….

4.

Income Chargeable under the head

 

₹………….

 

"Income from House Property" (2-3)

 

 

 

The following three conditions must be satisfied before the income of the property can be taxed  under the head "Income from House Property": 

 

(i)            The property must consist of buildings and lands appurtenant thereto,

 

(ii)           The assessee must be the owner of such house property, 

 

(iii)          The property may be used for any purpose, but it should not be used by the owner for the  purpose of any business or profession carried on him, the profit of which are chargeable to  tax. If the property is used for own business or profession, it shall not be chargeable to tax. 

 

Ownership includes both free-hold and lease-hold rights and also includes deemed ownership.

 

Annual Value of House Property [section 23(1)(a)] 

 

As per section 23(1)(a) the annual value of any property shall be the sum for which the property  might reasonably be expected to be let from year to year. It may neither be the actual rent derived nor  the municipal valuation of the property. It is something like notional rent which could have been  derived, had the property been let. In determining the Annual Value there are 4 factors which are normally taken into consideration . These are :

 

1.    Actual rent received or receivable 

 

2.    Municipal value 

 

3.    Fair rent of the property 

 

4.    Standard rent 

 

Tax Treatment of 'Unrealised Rent' [Explanation to Section 23(1)]

 

The amount of rent which the owner cannot realise shall be equal to the amount of rent payable  but not paid by a tenant of the assessee and so proved to be lost and irrecoverable where,— 

 

(a)           the tenancy is bona fide; 

 

(b)          the defaulting tenant has vacated, or steps have been taken to compel him to vacate the  property; 

 

(c)           the defaulting tenant is not in occupation of any other property of the assessee;  

 

(d)          the assessee has taken all reasonable steps to institute legal proceedings for the recovery of  the unpaid rent or satisfies the Assessing Officer that legal proceedings would be useless.

 

Note :

 

However, in the income-tax return forms, unrealized rent has been shown as deduction from the  gross annual value (i.e. after taking expected rent or actual rent whichever is higher). It is therefore,  recommended that unrealized rent should be deducted after computation of gross annual value. 

 

Similarly where a house is vacant for part of the year, section 23(1)(c) provides that gross annual  value is be taken as actual rent if the same is less than the expected rent. In this case also, unrealised  rent should be deducted after computation of gross annual value (i.e. the actual rent).

 

No Notional income for house property held as stock-in-trade for a period upto 2 years  [Section 23(5)] 

 

Where the property— 

 

— consisting of any building or land appurtenant thereto is held as stock-in-trade: 

and 

— the property or any part of the property is not let during the whole or any part of the previous  year, 

 

the annual value of such property or part of the property shall be taken to be nil for the period up  to 2 years from the end of the financial year in which the certificate of completion of  construction of the property is obtained from the competent authority.

 

Interest when not deductible from "Income from House Property" [Section 25] 

 

Interest on borrowed money which is payable outside India shall not be allowed as deduction u/s  24(b), unless the tax on the same has been paid or deducted at source and in respect of which there is  no person in India, who may be treated as agent of the recipient for such purpose. 

 

Special provision for Arrears of Rent and Unrealised Rent received subsequently [Section  25A] 

 

(1) Arrears of rent or unrealized rent received subsequently to be taxed under the head  "Income from House Property [Section 25A(1)]:

 

The amount of— 

— arrears of rent received from a tenant, or 

— the unrealised rent realised subsequently from a tenant 

 

by an assessee shall be deemed to be the income from house property in respect of the financial year in  which such rent is received or realised, and shall be included in the total income of the assessee under  the head "Income from house property", whether the assessee is the owner of the property or not in  that financial year. 

 

(2) Standard deduction @ 30% to be allowed from such arrears of rent or unrealized rent  [Section 25A(2)]:

 

A sum equal to 30% of the arrears of rent or the unrealised rent referred to in  section 25A(1) shall be allowed as deduction. 

 

Property owned by Co-owners [Section 26]  - for computing House Property Income

 

Sometimes the property consisting of buildings or the buildings and lands appurtenant thereto is  owned by two or more persons, who are known as co-owners. In such cases, if their respective shares  are definite and ascertainable, such persons shall not be assessed as an AOP in respect of such  property, but the share of each such person in the income from the property, as computed in  accordance with sections 22-25, shall be included in his total income as under: 

 

(a) Where house property is self-occupied by each co-owner:

 

Where the house property owned  by the co-owners is self occupied by each of the co-owner, the annual value of the property  for each of such co-owner shall be nil and each of the co-owner shall be entitled to the  maximum deduction of ₹30,000/2,00,000 under section 24(b) on account of interest on  borrowed money. 

 

(b) Where the entire or part of the property is let:

 

As regards, the property or part of the property  which is owned by co-owners is let out, the income from such property or part thereof shall  be first computed as if this property/part is owned by one owner and thereafter the income so  computed shall be apportioned amongst each co-owner as per their definite share. 

 

Can Annual Value (Net Annual Value) be Negative?  - for computing House Property Income

 

The Annual Value (NAV) can be negative only when the municipal taxes paid by the owner are  more than the gross annual value. 

 

Can there be any Loss under the head Income from House Property? 

 

This brings us to the question as to whether there can be any loss under this head. 

 

(i)            In so far as income from one/two self-occupied property/(ies) is concerned, the annual value  is taken as NIL . No deductions are allowed except for interest on borrowed funds up to a  maximum of ₹30,000/2,00,000.

Naturally, therefore, there may be a loss in respect of such  property/(ies) up to a maximum of ₹30,000/2,00,000, as the case may be. 

 

(ii)           In respect of any other type of house property, namely a house property which is fully let out  or part of the year let out, etc., there are no restrictions on deductions and therefore, there can  be loss under this head in respect of such properties due to municipal taxes as well as  deductions. Similarly, deductions under section 24 in case of property deemed to be let out,  can be more than net annual value.

 

Deductions from income from House Property [Section 24] 

 

Income chargeable under the head "Income from house property" shall be computed after making  the following deductions, namely:— 

 

(a) Standard deduction:

 

From the net annual value computed, the assessee shall be allowed a  standard deduction of a sum equal to 30% of the net annual value. 

 

(b) Interest on borrowed capital:

 

Where the property has been acquired, constructed, repaired,  renewed or reconstructed with borrowed capital, the amount of any interest payable on such  capital is allowed as a deduction. 

 

The amount of interest payable yearly should be calculated separately and claimed as a  deduction every year. It is immaterial whether the interest has been actually paid or not paid  during the year.

 

Interest attributable to the period prior to completion of construction:

 

It may so happen that  money is borrowed earlier and acquisition or completion of construction takes place in any  subsequent year. Meanwhile interest becomes payable. In such a case interest paid/payable  for the period prior to the previous year in which the property is acquired/constructed (as  reduced by any part thereof allowed as a deduction under any other provisions of the Income tax Act) will be aggregated and allowed in five successive financial years starting from the  year in which the acquisition/construction was completed. 

 

Interest will be aggregated from the date of borrowing till the end of the previous year prior  to the previous year in which the house is completed and not till the date of completion of  construction. 

 

Any interest paid on outstanding amount of interest, will not be allowed as Deduction.

 

Note :

 

Amendment made by the Finance Act, 2020 

 

If an individual or HUF opts to be taxed as per the new alternative regime under section  115BAC, he/it will not be entitled to claim loss under the head "Income from house property"  with any other head of income. Further, such loss shall be deemed to have been given full effect  to and no further deduction for such loss shall be allowed for any subsequent year.

 

 

Deemed Ownership [Section 27] for the purpose of Section 22 to 26 for computing House Property Income

 

As per section 27, the following persons though not the legal  owners of a property are deemed to be the owners for the purposes of sections 22 to 26: 

 

Transfer to a spouse [Section 27(i)]:

 

If an individual transfers any house property to his or  her spouse otherwise than for adequate consideration, the transferor in that case is deemed to  be the owner of the property so transferred. This would, however, not cover cases where a  property is transferred to a spouse in connection with an agreement to live apart. 

 

Transfer to a minor child [Section 27(i)]:

 

If an individual transfers any house property to  his or her minor child otherwise than for adequate consideration, the transferor in that case is  deemed to be the owner of the house property so transferred. This would, however, not cover  cases where a property is transferred to a minor married daughter. 

 

Where the individual transfers cash to his/her spouse or minor child and the transferee acquires a  house property out of such cash, the transferor shall not be treated as deemed owner of the house  property. Such transaction will however, attract clubbing provisions discussed under Chapter 9. 

 

Holder of an impartible estate [Section 27(ii)]:

 

The holder of an impartible estate shall be  deemed to be the individual owner of all properties comprised in the estate. The impartible  estate, as the word itself suggests, is a property which is not legally divisible.

 

Member of a Co-operative Society, etc. [Section 27(iii)]:

 

A member of a co-operative  society, company or other association of persons to whom a building or part thereof is  allotted or leased under a House Building Scheme of a society/company/association, shall be  deemed to be owner of that building or part thereof allotted to him although the co-operative  society/company/association is the legal owner of that building. 

 

Person in possession of a property [Section 27(iiia)]:

 

A person who is allowed to take or  retain the possession of any building or part thereof in part performance of a contract of the  nature referred to in section 53A of the Transfer of Property Act shall be deemed owner of  that house property. This would cover cases where the (a) possession of property has been  handed over to the buyer, (b) sale consideration has been paid or promised to be paid to the  seller by the buyer, (c) sale deed has not been executed in favour of the buyer, although  certain other documents like power of attorney/agreement to sell/will etc. have been  executed. The buyer would be deemed to be the owner of the property although it is not  registered in his name. 

 

Person having right in a property for a period not less than 12 years [Section 27(iiib)]:

 

A  person who acquires any right in or with respect to any building or part thereof, by virtue of  any transaction as is referred to in section 269UA(f) i.e. transfer by way of lease for not less  than 12 years shall be deemed to be the owner of that building or part thereof. This will not  cover the case where any right by way of a lease is acquired from month to month basis or for  a period not exceeding one year.

 

 

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